Concrete-tunnel form.



A. A. BREWER.

CONCRETE TUNNEL FORM. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29, 19122 1,139,335. Patented May II, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

2s I E AIF'IIit-ED,A. BREWER, ,0F NEW' YORK, NQ Y., CONDUIT G0., OF DUNELLEN, NEW JERS ASSIGNOR TO RANSOME INTERNATIONAL EY, A. CORPGRATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

CONCRETE-TUN N EL FORM.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED A. BREWER, a resident of lthe city of New York, borough of Manhattan, vcounty and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concrete-Ti'innel Forms,

of which the following is a full, clear, andA exact description.

- y invention relates to collapsible forms for the construction oil concrete tunnels, and particularly to those forms' which are c omposed of steel plates with 4structural iron frames and adapted, when the concrete hai-dens around them, to be collapsed and moved yforward progressively with the formation of the work.

The Ainvention resides Ain certain special features of construction, ,which make the forms more easy .of construction and more durable and effective 1n operation, and in various other features of importance, fill of which will he fully set forth hereinaiter and particularly pointed out inthe claims.

For the purpose of a speciicdescription of' the preferred form of my invention, which, isgi'ven as an einannl'e only, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, inv

whichlp Figure 1 lrein-eseeiits a cross section or" a typical concrete tunnel or tube, showing my invention in use therein; Fig. 2 is :tiringH mentary longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is adongitudinal section ot' the tunnel on a reduced scale, showingr the. manner of using the forms,

The forms are especially adapted for 'true tunnel 4work, that is to say, where the con-l crete tube is vcast inside of closed tlinnelr as distinguished from so- .callcd cut and cover' work, although, of course, it may he employed in the latter and `various other connections without departing from the tion.

The form is substantially semi-circular in cross sectional contour, and is so constructed that it may he employed to shape both'tiie invert and the cap or top section of the tube. This allowsI all of the forni sections employed on a joh to be ot' uniform and interchangeable size and construction and spirit and scope of theinvengreatly decreases-the cost oi' iiiaiiui'zactuio and increases the facility with which @ne work n'iay he i-arrii-d on. v

The ioi'in itself is composed ol: a niirm Specification of Letters Patent. Application led February 29, 1912. Serial No. 680,748.

yions .12, the members a completely inpear.

Patented May 11, 1915.

ber of pairs of transversely disposed beams i 10, the members of each pair being set parallel web to web and riveted together 'with the spacer blocks 11 between them. Riveted to each spacer block 11 are pairs of stanchof each pair also formed of channel iron sections, set web "to web, and such pairs rising from the beams 10, as shown. At their upper ends, the pairs of stancliions 12 have .spacer blocks 11 riveted between their members and these are which are curved of the tunnel stanchions as shown.

in the arc fof the diameter and extend' between the Steel plates 17 are 16, and such plates are stiiened and reinforced by angle irons 1S longitudinallydisposed between/the beams or ribslG. The purpose of the loose plates 17 will be .fully setl forth hereinafter.

The several spacci' blocks 14 at each side ot' the form carry ypintle rods 19, on which the hinge butts Q0 are mounted. These hinge butts 2O are joined to arc-shaped ribsl, which cxtendfrom Athe rods 19 downward to the beams 10 along the contour of thc tunnel ailixe'd thereto. These plates 22 are rein# forced by angle iron ribs 23 and servewith the :ribs 21 to forni rigid wings at each side of thenold, which wings, however, may swing in land out 'around the pintle rods 19. When the parts are extended into operative position, shown in Fig, l, the plates 17 and lie in a tree senii-circle 4to give thel tunnel its true circular form, but when the concrete has hardened around the mold or l'orm, the wings at each side may be drawn in and the .form dropped, disengaging it from the concrete and allowing the form to be advanced, as will hereinafter fully ap-y Tlie ribs 21 have their lower ends loosely received between the ends` of the -rnembers of the 'pairs of beams 10 and are l,gjfuided thereby in their inward and outward movement. Said lower ends of the ribs, 21 have lugs 24 thereon located lrespectively above and below the beams 10; and these ,ings are adapted to have turnbuckles 25 joined by clamps 15 to ribs 16,

' intended to be placed loosely over the ribs and have steel plates 22 f yse ' v form may ,I n second-named assume the relative position shown in Fig.

tunbucldes,l the wings at the side of the be moved in or out as described. The lugs 24Lan'd i1a are located above and below the beams 10, so as versal of the position Vo'l the turnbuckles when the form is reversed, Thus, as shown in Fig. l, in the construction ot the cap ot the tunnel, the tiirnbiieklesl are most con; veniently locatedbelow the beams 10,l but if the yform -isreversed to 'torni the invert orv bottom sectionbthe tunnel, it will be most convenient to -change turnbulle, so that they posite side of thebeams side will then be 'thennder'side or, infother words, the s'ideifwhich isy uppermost -when the form is in theposition shown in Iilig.` l. In both situations, however, the turnbuckles perform the function above referred to.

The form is adapted tobe supported in will -lie on the o poperative position and-transported' along vp bymeansx wheels l27 y the invert and arranged to be chocked or wedged against rocking'- worle progresses,

the tunnel as the truck 26', having of a carriage or adapted to run-0n or lateral-motion by tapering blocks 27a or the like driven in between the corners o. the truck and the inner surface ot' the invert of the tunnel. Said carriage mounts a num ber-'ot jacksQS and these in turn support longitudinally extending beams 29 into which beams the beams 1G are jogged or so that in this sunk, as shown bestI inFig. 2,

on the truck manner the form is mounted and is prevented from shifting 'by the jack and the whole apparatus moved along thevlength of the'tunnel desired to start a new section of the work.

In the use of the invention, a key-'or narrow invert section a is laid 'along the flongitudi- I filled in at the sides 'of the form, meeting the key a and extending 'up to the spring line of the: tunnel, that is to say, to the Widest horizontal diameter thereot.-A The form'is allowed to set in this position until the concrete is set and the invert isithen formed. The bottom or inverted then moved forward a section equal to the length of the form, and the operation is repeated. Meanwhile, the truck 26 is wheeled forward into the invert section firstI formed and a second form in the adjustment shown inlig; l is setup with'its vside edges meeting the invert which has rst been formed, and the cap or top sec- .tion 'of the tunnel is molded around the form. The two forms then to `complete the nerfprogresses'step by step,

The loose plates 17 y"on"th'e form '76"j' allow theconcrete to be introduced "between i thepositioncf the v form'by bringing 10. This opposite I"onA rails B1, which are-mountedfonfa longitudif nally. It may alsofbe raised and lowered when it 'is form isA 3, which is t say, the bottom form produces f thein ert and isalways at Work one section a'ead1of the cap or. top form. The bottoni form precedes Ithe Acap kforrn for the purpose ofl producing the invert,

the inverted form.

trates.

ort the concrete as it rises,.and 'finally Ythe lastfplatelis put inposition'a'n `the remainder of the eoncreteit the 'crwiifof the arch is introduced longitiidi'naiiy' ofthe tunnelfrom the front end of the formalong the top of the same.l yll/'h'in ythe forniisy t reversed' to construct theinvrt ofthe tun` nel, the'piates 17 are, of eoiirse,te`mporarily lsecured tothe ribs 16, and theiconcret'efis charged in past the upper side edges df the '95' f reversed f j It will be' observed tliatjinl this 'manner f il `with'the use of two of the forms, the forbe prperli'f o i o l or inverted form.

mation of the concrete tube may on, the operation proceedingl in defi# nite varices and by calculating 'the length7 @falle forms and the Capacity 0f the* 'Plant'-y t may-be arranged se that-a d'ays. workl will be .eonsumedin tormiiigvnebb'n i the invert section precedng 'it fThiS llOW'S the formsy to be iet' in ft'u o'vernight, while the 'concrete hm'diis a-nd'thefnext' days "Work will consist n'a Second apfand' a' second preceding nvert."

The form may be of uniformconstruction,110 and their parts, therefor@` readily a inter-A4 changedy for adjustment `orA repair. This' A not 'only' makes the operation easy, butl greatly' reduces the expense of operation and maintenance. g l'* j v Having thus described'myinventionywhat I claim 'as new and desire. to secure ters "Patentis: l' c i y l: A form for constructing concretetixbe, comprising diametric frame beamBfvadd-j tional frame beams extending trMVl'Sl'y `l from one side thereof and a. xgiifaiil'levr frame section betweeny the' outer entlsof saidv additional frame beanie,y hinged Wings at; the sides of vthe -torni exteudingbetween said rigid frame section and the ends of the and the l10 cap form'follows it up by inolding'vftharmp tunnel immediately I"back 0f 1 The workf'in tl'iismanf l as Fig. Bf iliiis-i i the concrete up thrpugh f y'-the'tunnel in a suitable buggy iiD-running" stage' am orthe like erected for that 'purpose inthe? tunnel independently of "tli'eiorm: ythe concrete is charged in around the'cap'foim o and rises toward the'c'rown'ofthe archi-,heini plates"17 are one by' one freplacedt'osup'f r""y v,

nifl

ros

diametric beams and meansfor moving ythe' said wings in and out.

2.- A form for constructing 'concrete tubes,

comprising diametrie frame beams, addi-Y 'to wing form section 7. A form for concrete work comprising.'

messes being located at the ends of the arched frame section. Y

3. A form for constructing concrete tubes, comprising diametric frame beams, additional frame beams extending transversely from one side thereof and a rigid-arched frame section between the outer end's osaid additional `frame beams, hinged wings at the sides of the form extending between said rigid frame section andthe ends of the diametric beams and means for moving the said wings in and out, the hinges of the wings being located at the ends of the' arched frame section and said means for moving,

the wings being located adjacent to the diametric beams.

4. A form f or constructing concrete tubes, comprising dia-metric frame beams, additional frame beams extending transversely from 'one-side thereof and a rigid arched frame section between the outer ends of said additional frame beams, hinged wings at the sides of the form extending between said rigid frame section and the ends of the diametric beams and means for moving the said wings in and ont, comprising turnbuckles mounted on the diametric beams and eXtending parallel thereto interconnection with 'the wings.

5. A form :for constructing concrete tubes, comprising diemetric freine Y beams, addi-- tional frame beams lextending transversely from one sidethereof landaA rigid arched frame section between the'outer ends of said additional` freine beams, hinged wings at the sides of the form extending between said A rigid frame section and the ends of the diametric beams and means 'for moving the said v l Iend of said additional frame beams and exwings in and ont, said means for moving the wings being located alongside of the diametric beams and the form being provided with devices whereby the means for moving the wings may be reversed from one side to wthe oth purpose specified.

6. A form for concrete work comprising pairs of frame beams, the members oi which are spaced from each other, a, wing forming section hinged to a frame beam and adapte to move in and-out and having a part sliding between the spaced members of said pairs of frame beams and means for so mov-mg the er of the diametrio beams, for thepairs of frame beams, the members of are spaced from each other, a wing forming section hinged to a frame beam and adapted 1 to move in and out and having a part slidin between the spaced members of said pairs o frame beams andmeans for sovmoving the wing form section, such means located alongside the frame. beams and a form 'provided with devices whereby said means for moving the win form'section may be reversed from one si e of the beams to the other, for the pur-pose s ecified. i

8. A, form or concrete work pairs of frame beams,

comprising section hinged to a' frame 'beam and adapte to move in and out and having a part slidin between the spaced members of said pairs o frame ,beams and means wing form section, comprising a turnbuchle, endend of which is articulated to the frame and the other to the said wing. y

9. A form for making concrete tribes, comprising diametric frame beams, each composed of two members spaced from each other, spacer blocks fastened between said members of said beams, additional beams fastened to said spacer blocks, projecting laterally from onc`side of the diametric beams, an arched crown section with its frame member rigidly joined to the outer end of said additional frame beams and extending between the same, pintle rods at the outer endsoi. said frame bea-nis, Wing seetions hinged to said pintle rods to swing in and out and means for moving the wing section. 1

10. A 'form for making concrete tubes,

comprising diametrio frame beams, each.,

composed of two members spaced from cach other, spacer blocks fastened between said members of; said beams, additional beams fastened to said spacer Hockey-projecting laterally `from one side of the diemetric the members of which are spaced trom each other, a wing formingA for so moving the beams, an arched crown section .with its frame member rigidly joined to the outer parte sli. i

between and guided by the said spaced mebers of the frame beams. l

In testimony vv'hereol have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.v

A ALFREB A. BEER.

Witnema: i

Emerson 'I'. Manssen, i Hannan Ams,

ams, wing sec- 

